Senior Process Engineer

Coherent Corp.•Newark, DE

5d•$82,720 - $135,456

About The Position

The Senior Process Engineer is a hands-on technical authority with broad ownership of assigned product families and key ceramic manufacturing processes. Working independently with limited supervision, the engineer resolves complex manufacturing problems, improves process performance, and provides technical guidance to other engineers. The role requires significant time on the manufacturing floor to observe processes, conduct trials, validate improvements, and work directly with operators and supervisors. In collaboration with the Engineering Lead, the engineer sets technical direction within assigned areas and influences decisions across Operations, Quality, R&D, customers, and other sites. The engineer mentors junior engineers and may lead cross-site or multi-product technical work connected to assigned products or processes. This is an individual-contributor role: coordination and assignments remain the Engineering Lead’s responsibility, as do final engineering standards and governance decisions. The role is based in an office and manufacturing-floor environment, with regular interaction with production processes and equipment. Employees must follow site and corporate EHS standards, attend scheduled safety training, and use required personal protective equipment. Depending on location and role responsibilities, the position may also be responsible for executing and maintaining applicable quality and environmental management system standards. Coherent describes itself as a global leader in lasers, engineered materials, and networking components, and offers a career development platform and competitive compensation program.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Ceramic Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.
At least 5 years of engineering, manufacturing, process development, or related experience.
Seasoned technical capability in manufacturing or process development, including ownership of complex problems through implementation and sustained results.
Evidence of providing technical guidance to other engineers, mentoring, and exercising effective cross-functional influence.
Ability to work independently with limited supervision, develop approaches from general objectives, manage concurrent technical priorities, and follow through on commitments.
Practical experience with data analysis, design of experiments, statistical process control, and structured root-cause analysis.
Ability to translate experimental results and production data into robust process controls, work instructions, PFMEAs, and control plans.
Clear technical writing and presentation skills, including the ability to explain and defend recommendations, lead technical discussions, and communicate with operators, engineers, senior stakeholders, and customers.
Ability to mentor engineers, review technical work, and build productive relationships across functions and sites through expertise, collaboration, and sound judgment.
Hands-on manufacturing problem-solving skills, willingness to challenge assumptions respectfully, and commitment to validating solutions on the production floor.
Ability to occasionally lift, push, or pull up to 20 pounds; sit, stand, bend, squat, and walk about the facility; and work safely around manufacturing equipment.
Adhere to company values (ICARE) in all aspects of the position.

Nice To Haves

Expertise in ceramic or advanced materials processing.
Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma experience.
Experience interpreting technical drawings and understanding geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).

Responsibilities

Own manufacturing process performance for assigned product families; establish baselines and agree on improvement priorities and targets with the Engineering Lead and Operations, then deliver sustained improvements in yield, process capability, throughput, scrap, and cost.
Develop subject matter expertise in assigned ceramic processes and guide engineers through difficult technical questions; review analyses and proposed solutions within areas of expertise.
Collaboratively set technical direction for assigned products and processes, define approaches and project work plans, monitor progress, and guide technical execution across related engineering work.
Select methods and develop solutions using independent judgment when causes are uncertain, data are incomplete, or process interactions must be evaluated; document and explain technical decisions, evidence, assumptions, alternatives, and risks, and seek approvals or escalate issues as needed.
Troubleshoot on the manufacturing floor by observing equipment and operator practices, conducting trials, and verifying that improvements work under routine production conditions.
Lead complex root-cause investigations and permanent corrective actions for recurring production problems and Material Review Board issues, using structured problem solving, data analysis, designed experiments, and statistical process control.
Develop, standardize, and maintain process controls, operating windows, work instructions, process failure mode and effects analyses, and control plans; train users, verify adoption and effectiveness, and contribute technical recommendations to engineering standards through established approval processes.
Lead cross-site or multi-product technical initiatives involving assigned products or subject-matter-expert processes; for relevant transfers, lead assigned technical work or provide consultation, define process requirements and validation criteria, transfer knowledge, and verify receiving-site readiness with responsible teams.
Represent Engineering on assigned technical matters with Operations, Quality, R&D, customers, and other sites; present findings and recommendations, lead technical discussions, resolve differing perspectives using evidence, and follow through on agreed actions.
Mentor junior engineers through floor-based coaching, experimental planning, technical reviews, and constructive feedback; support the Engineering Lead’s development plans while the Lead retains primary accountability for employee development and performance management.
Collaborate with R&D and cross-functional teams to introduce new products and technologies into manufacturing; evaluate manufacturability, process risks, and qualification evidence, and establish robust controls for assigned products and processes.
Attend scheduled safety training, follow site EHS procedures and corporate EHS standards, and use required protective equipment.
Depending on location and assigned responsibilities, execute and maintain applicable quality and environmental management system standards.